New International Version
Jeremiah 5:31
31The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?
Jeremiah 5:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
- English Standard Version (ESV)the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?
- New King James Version (NKJV)The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?
- New Living Translation (NLT)the prophets give false prophecies, and the priests rule with an iron hand. Worse yet, my people like it that way! But what will you do when the end comes?
Context of Jeremiah 5:31
29Should I not punish them for this?” declares the Lord. “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this? 30“A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?
Read all of Jeremiah 5Jeremiah 5:31 word by word
הַנְּבִיאִ֞ים נִבְּא֣וּ־בַשֶּׁ֗קֶר וְהַכֹּהֲנִים֙ יִרְדּ֣וּ עַל־יְדֵיהֶ֔ם וְעַמִּ֖י אָ֣הֲבוּ כֵ֑ן וּמַֽה־תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ לְאַחֲרִיתָֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The prophetsנָבִיאnâbîy' · prophetH5030
- prophesyנָבָאnâbâ' · to prophesyH5012
- falselyשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
- and the priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
- bear ruleרָדָהrâdâh · to scrapeH7287
- by their meansיָדyâd · hand: themselvesH3027
- and my peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- loveאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157
- so: and what will ye doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- in the endאַחֲרִית'achărîyth · endH319
Cross-references for Jeremiah 5:31
- Jeremiah 14:14Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.
- Jeremiah 23:25“I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’
- Lamentations 2:14The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The prophecies they gave you were false and misleading.
- Ezekiel 13:6Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words.
- Micah 3:11Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.”
- Matthew 7:15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
- 2 Peter 2:1But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
- Isaiah 30:10They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.
- Micah 2:6“Do not prophesy,” their prophets say. “Do not prophesy about these things; disgrace will not overtake us.”
- John 3:19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie,
- 2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
- Jeremiah 4:30What are you doing, you devastated one? Why dress yourself in scarlet and put on jewels of gold? Why highlight your eyes with makeup? You adorn yourself in vain. Your lovers despise you; they want to kill you.
- Jeremiah 22:22The wind will drive all your shepherds away, and your allies will go into exile. Then you will be ashamed and disgraced because of all your wickedness.
- Deuteronomy 32:29If only they were wise and would understand this and discern what their end will be!
Commentaries on Jeremiah 5:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31The prophets prophesy falsely - The false prophets predict favorable things, that they may please both the princes and the people. The priests bear rule by their means - The false prophets affording them all that their influence and power can procure, to enable them to keep their places, and feed on the riches of the Lord's house. And my people love to have it so - Are perfectly satisfied with this state of things, because they are permitted to continue…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20-31Verses 20-31 Against the God (1) of Creation Jeremiah 5:22, and (2) of Providence Jeremiah 5:24, They sin, not merely by apostasy, but by a general immorality extending to all classes Jeremiah 5:25-28. It is in this immorality that their idolatry has its root. Jeremiah 5:22 The sea is the symbol of restless and indomitable energy, chafing against all resistance, and dashing to pieces the works whereby man endeavors to restrain its fury. Yet God has…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-31Verses 19-31 Unhumbled hearts are ready to charge God with being unjust in their afflictions. But they may read their sin in their punishment. If men will inquire wherefore the Lord doeth hard things unto them, let them think of their sins. The restless waves obeyed the Divine decree, that they should not pass the sandy shores, which were as much a restraint as lofty mountains; but they burst all restraints of God's law, and were wholly gone into…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29-31The people's sins (Jeremiah 5:26–28) fully justified the Lord's punishment, but the religious leaders committed even more wrongs. The prophets lied and claimed these lies were prophecies from the Lord (Jeremiah 14:14; Ezekiel 13:6). The priests, who were supposed to serve the people, became tyrants and ruled harshly. Surprisingly, the people accepted their leaders' new roles, even though this left them unprepared for the disaster approaching them (Micah…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. bear rule by their means--literally, "according to their hands," that is, under their guidance (1Ch 25:3). As a sample of the priests lending themselves to the deceits of the false prophets, to gain influence over the people, see Jr 29:24-32. love to have it so--(Mi 2:11). end thereof--the fatal issue of this sinful course when divine judgments shall come.Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 5:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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